Kyrie Irving opens the new season on Wednesday night with the Boston Celtics at his ex-team, the Cleveland Cavaliers (live on DAZN).Point Guard spoke to The Undefeated about the two teams and the special situation.
In the summer Irving had been surprised by the desire to be traded by the Cavaliers, as he wanted to get out of the shadow of LeBron James.The Cavaliers finally fulfilled this wish and sent him to Boston for Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic and a first round pick.The duel with his new team against the old team is therefore eagerly awaited for the opening of the season.
Irving is not nervous about this, however:”Why should I?We’re just playing basketball,”said Irving.”I get the meaning.I also know how big this is marketed and how people feel about it.It’s just part of the game.But for me, it’s just two baskets and a basketball.”
He doesn’t even care whether he is welcomed or booed in Cleveland:”I love the city, no matter what.I’ve heard boots there before, I was also part of a master parade and was cheered.I won a title and was already in the’ Q’ with 30 points behind.That’s why I know all this.I’m just happy to go there and play against a great team like the Cavs.”
The duel with James, who is questionable for the game, is only so important for one reason:”The only reason why it gets so much energy and attention?Because we were so special,”said Irving.Together with James, he led the Cavs to three final appearances in series as well as the only title of the franchise (2016).
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He was proud of what he had achieved in Cleveland, because it was “unique”.Whether the Cavaliers should pull his jersey under the hall ceiling one day, he didn’t want to answer:”I don’t know if that will happen.But it is not important to me whether what I have achieved there is appreciated.I myself can appreciate my time there and will never forget it.”
But now he’s looking forward to Boston, a city that’s “completely different” from Cleveland:”It’s a really big, important city when you come from Cleveland,”Irving said,”Boston is one of those cities….I think,”Okay, I’m in a real sports town, a great city.”
Irving was picked first by the Cavaliers in 2011 and spent his entire career there.In four of its six seasons, the Point Guard took part in the All-Star Game.